The Mannequin and the Man by Chipka
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Description
There are times, he thinks, when dumb mannequins in store windows are the city’s only form of articulate expression…times—he thinks—when their silence speaks with incontrovertible clarity. Words—especially those spoken—are little more than a muddle, and so the silence of mannequins is graceful and appropriate.
It is a chilly night.
It is damp.
His footsteps are silent—or nearly so. Silence, he thinks, is not entirely possible in a city so large.
To the west, elevated trains thunder into Belmont Station: various lines converge there—Red…Brown…Purple and automated voices announce whether the trains are inbound (toward the Loop) or outbound. He has ridden each line: Purple to the strange border between the city and its northern neighbor; Brown to the western fringes where Spanish claims dominance before losing itself to wild, staccato bursts of Polish; Red to work in the downtown core, where he sits—for eight hours a day—managing other people’s affairs. Now, he walks. He has no need of the trains on their color-coded lines.
He passes a store window and the silence of mannequins. There is nothing to say. Their silence has already said it all.
* * *
I took this picture last Saturday, just before falling in love with the buffed aluminum patio tables at a local coffee house. I must have been in a particularly metallic mood that night, because the majority of the photos I took all feature aluminum and light, aluminum and shadows, and most prominently, a strange, existential darkness that I have yet to fully define.
As I passed the new home of the army surplus store on Belmont, I was intrigued by the play of light on its metallic and glassy face. I turned suddenly, my camera already primed, and captured this shot. It wasn’t until I got home that I realized there was a pedestrian involved as well. A stranger. One of Chicago’s numerous unfamiliar faces. I liked his position in relation to the reflected light.
* * *
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re having a great week. Winter has finally broken into fragments here, and we have warm temperatures. Chicagoans are both celebratory and confused as such warmth brings with it a profound sense of shock and disequilibrium. I’m sure the city will recover soon enough. It always does.
Comments (25)
durleybeachbum
I can really relate to this night shot, because it is less impersonal than the wider bright-light city views you have shown us. This is on a scale that I'm comfy with, and I like the calm look on the strangers face, so similar to that on the mannequin. Excellent!
anaber
Excellent interpretation of the scene, you captured of "man and mannequim"... It speaks ,at my view of a social story, no much different of feelings and posture that we find from day to day, everywhere!...the suffered silence..the empty eyes...and the great difference, at my eyes, is that the man can walk and the mannequim no...I am impressed with the capture of that unique moment! Stunning light!
Mousson
splendide !!!
yons
Great connection between two subjects.
MrsRatbag
A story in pictures... as always, Chip!
Charberry
The contrast of light and dark really strike the mood here. Excellent idea.
watapki66
Great shot!
beachzz
This is a heavy metal shot and I love it. I love the reflections, the light, the man walking--everything about it!! Cool shot, Chip!!
bmac62
A good read Chip...puts me right into the scene. I have a feel for what's going on...I can reach out and touch it. A-1.
auntietk
I love the strong verticals in this, with the unexpected block of windows and thin horizontal lines. The mannequin and the man create nice grace notes in the angularity of their surroundings. Great image, and of course I love your writing.
helanker
This metallic light this shot has makes it so beautiful and special. It is such a fantastic shot. And the mannequin looks so "ignored" and lonely. It cant even yell at the pedestrians to have a look. I love this shot and its story.
jmb007
superbe atmosphere!!
Meisiekind
You talk about the sound of silence! I wish I could explain in words how real silence sounds in the middle of the Namib desert! It is so quiet that you can actually hear it! Wonderful shot with fascinating lines, angles and of course light! Well done Chip! :)
Alex_Antonov
Very well done!
minos_6
Excellent capture, the pov is superb! Your writing is always so interesting too...
marybelgium
splendide !
Kaartijer
Awesome night shot, good composition!
romanceworks
Your mind is never silent, nor your creativity. The silence of mannequins is quite interesting ... and often they are more intriguing that what has been draped on them. Cool photo. Metallic mood ... that one made me smile. CC
kgb224
Outstanding capture my friend.
flavia49
splendid picture!!
sandra46
stellar work! a great mood for a great composition... this photo has a peculiar athmosphere, and the somewhat slant perspective adds to the feeling of estrangement.
KatesFriend
It is a strange otherworldly look, gas or solid state lighting on metal. Of course, because of how it is generated, this light is far more monochrome and the colour more intense than natural or incandecent light. Lovely capture, especially since it was taken so spontaneously. I like the thoughtful look on the stranger, an effective canvas for the short story. You always seem to capture a whole environment is a very brief span of words.
Daz1971
Beautiful colours and composition. No wonder you fell in love with metal that night! Your writing is so moving as well.
Sepiasiren
love the lighting and treatment on this--totally awesome!
myrrhluz
I can see what attracted you to this shot. The intensity of the light, the strange shapes the metallic surfaces force the light to take, the dark spaces. There are interesting details too. The numbers. Are they addresses, or do they identify the floor? "4 Lingerie" "5 Pots and Pans" The flag seems pressed against the window. Perhaps it wants to go to the less exuberant brick building next door. Add to all of this, the mannequin and the blank faced pedestrian and this is an image to ponder. I love your narrative! That feeling of being lost in the noise and movement of a city, in the monotonous routine of daily life. It can not be expressed in words, but is seen in the blank faces all around us, and in the faces of the mannequins. At the other end of your image... another mannequin and another pedestrian. As always, it's a pleasure and inspiration to view your work!